5.0 mL Round-Bottom Test Tubes, 12 × 75 mm — Sterile PS, Flow Cytometry & Serology, 25/Bag
These 5.0 mL polystyrene round-bottom tubes measure 12 × 75 mm and represent the industry-standard format for flow cytometry sample preparation, immunophenotyping, and tube serology. Supplied sterile in 25/Bag packaging, they ship as open-top tubes, giving you unobstructed pipette access for sample loading and reagent dispensing before reading or sorting. The optical clarity of polystyrene provides the low autofluorescence background that fluorescence-based detection requires and delivers the visual transparency needed to read agglutination patterns in blood bank tube serology.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Part Number (MPN) | 222-2012-010 |
| Capacity | 5.0 mL |
| Dimensions | 12 × 75 mm |
| Geometry | Round Bottom |
| Material | Polystyrene (PS) |
| Color | Natural (clear) |
| Closure | None — open-top; use compatible stopper or cap |
| Sterility | Sterile |
| Pack Size | 25/Bag |
| BPA / Phthalate / Latex | BPA-Free, Phthalate-Free, Latex-Free |
| Country of Origin | USA |
Applications
- Flow cytometry (FACS): The 12 × 75 mm format seats directly in standard tube holders on BD FACSCanto™, BD LSR, Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX, Thermo Fisher Attune™, and virtually every other major flow cytometer — no adapters required.
- Cell sorting: Open-top design allows cap removal for sorter nozzle access; 5.0 mL capacity accommodates standard sort collection volumes.
- Immunophenotyping: The 5.0 mL volume comfortably holds a typical 50–100 µL sample plus 200 µL or more of antibody cocktail and wash buffer during lyse/wash protocols.
- Tube serology / blood bank agglutination testing: Polystyrene clarity enables direct visual reading of agglutination buttons, partial agglutinates, and dispersed-cell patterns against the tube wall.
- Intracellular staining: Compatible with standard fixation and saponin-based permeabilization protocols at typical working concentrations.
- Cell pellet wash steps: Round-bottom geometry produces a uniform, compact pellet during centrifugation; sterile construction preserves sample integrity for downstream culture or sorting.
Compatibility
The 12 × 75 mm round-bottom tube is the universally recognized standard format for flow cytometry and tube serology worldwide. These tubes seat directly in the sample tube holders of BD® FACSCanto™, BD® LSR series, Beckman Coulter® CytoFLEX and other Beckman cytometer platforms, Thermo Fisher Attune™, and most other major flow cytometers and cell sorters without requiring an adapter. For blood bank and serology applications, the same 12 × 75 mm geometry fits standard serological centrifuge tube racks and manual agglutination viewers. Whenever your protocol specifies a 12 × 75 mm tube for any of these platforms, part number 222-2012-010 serves as a direct drop-in supply.
Chemical Resistance
| Reagent / Condition | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Aqueous buffers / saline (pH 4–10) | Excellent |
| PBS, HBSS, cell culture media | Excellent |
| Dilute acids and bases | Good — short-term contact at typical working concentrations |
| Saponin-based permeabilization buffers | Compatible at standard working concentrations |
| Methanol (fixation protocols) | Compatible — short-term contact |
| Ethanol >70% | Not recommended — causes crazing and loss of clarity |
| Acetone | Not recommended — PS dissolves |
| Chloroform / aromatic solvents | Not recommended — PS dissolves |
| Autoclave / heat sterilization | Not autoclavable — PS is not heat-stable |
Quality & Procurement
Made in USA, these Caplugs® Evergreen tubes are manufactured from FDA-compliant, BPA-free, phthalate-free, latex-free polystyrene resin under ISO 9001 quality management. Each bag is sterile-packed to support the aseptic handling requirements of cell biology, flow cytometry, and clinical laboratory workflows. LabSupplies.com is an authorized Caplugs® Evergreen dealer and ships from USA inventory, typically same business day for stocking items, with tiered pricing available for high-volume institutional, hospital, and grant-funded accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these tubes sterile out of the bag?
Yes — they are sterile-packed and ready for aseptic use in cell biology, flow cytometry sample preparation, and clinical applications without any additional sterilization step.
Do these tubes fit standard flow cytometer sample holders without an adapter?
The 12 × 75 mm format is the global industry standard for flow cytometry, so these tubes seat directly in the tube holders of BD®, Beckman Coulter®, Thermo Fisher Attune™, and virtually all other major cytometer and cell sorter platforms.
The tubes are listed as open-top — what closures are compatible?
These tubes ship without a cap. Any standard 12 mm stopper, snap cap, or parafilm seal intended for 12 × 75 mm tubes can be used. If you need an integrated snap-cap version of the same 5.0 mL 12 × 75 mm tube, Caplugs® Evergreen offers the 222-2036-050 (unassembled, 25/Bag) in the same product family.
Can polystyrene tubes be used with fixative-containing protocols such as intracellular staining?
Yes, for typical intracellular staining workflows using formaldehyde-based fixatives and saponin- or methanol-based permeabilization buffers at standard working concentrations. However, PS is not compatible with high concentrations of acetone, chloroform, or aromatic solvents, so protocols requiring those reagents should use polypropylene tubes instead.